staying cool with no ac v91

Avatar 1: hellou there and Welcome to our EGreenNews Conversations.! Avatar 2: Pleasure to be here with you today. Avatar 1: What topics should we cover first? **Avatar 1:** It’s getting so hot these days, but not everyone has air conditioning. How can people stay cool without it? **Avatar 2:** Yeah, that’s a real problem. Luckily, there are some smart, simple ways to keep your body cool without needing AC. **Avatar 1:** Like what? **Avatar 2:** Well, one popular option is **evaporative coolers**. They cool the air by using water evaporation, but they work best in dry climates. **Avatar 1:** So they don’t work well if it’s humid? **Avatar 2:** Exactly. In high humidity, they barely cool the air. Plus, if they aren’t cleaned well, they can create spots for mosquitoes to breed. So they need regular maintenance. **Avatar 1:** Got it. What about those misting fans you see sometimes? **Avatar 2:** They work similarly, spraying a fine mist to cool the air, but only outside or in well-ventilated areas. Indoors, they can raise humidity and actually make things feel hotter. **Avatar 1:** Hmm, that’s tricky. What about ways to cool down yourself directly instead of cooling the air? **Avatar 2:** There are a bunch. For example, **ice towels**—you take crushed ice, wrap it in a damp cloth, and place it on your neck or chest. That can really cool your body, even in temps over 100 degrees. **Avatar 1:** But isn’t ice hard to get or keep frozen sometimes? **Avatar 2:** True. It needs access to ice and some effort to prepare, so it’s not always easy for everyone. **Avatar 1:** What about drinking cold water? Does that help? **Avatar 2:** Drinking cold water helps cool you internally, especially if you’re starting out hot. But if you’re already sweating heavily, it’s less effective at cooling your core temperature. **Avatar 1:** How effective are electric fans? Can they really keep you cool? **Avatar 2:** Fans can be great for young, healthy adults up to around 108°F in moderate humidity. But for older adults or if the humidity is low, fans alone aren’t enough. They work best when paired with wet skin. **Avatar 1:** Why does having wet skin help? **Avatar 2:** Because evaporation off wet skin is the body’s natural cooling system. Keeping skin wet speeds up this cooling effect. **Avatar 1:** So like pouring water on yourself? **Avatar 2:** Exactly! This is called **self-dousing**—spraying or dabbing water on your skin regularly. It can reduce heat stress even when it’s really hot, up to around 117°F. **Avatar 1:** That’s good to know. Are there limits to self-dousing? **Avatar 2:** It doesn’t work well if you wear heavy clothes or gear that block evaporation. You need exposed skin to get the full benefit. **Avatar 1:** I see. Any other body-focused ways to cool down? **Avatar 2:** Yes, **foot immersion** is helpful—soaking your feet up to the ankles in cool water. It’s especially good in hot and humid weather to reduce how hot and uncomfortable you feel. **Avatar 1:** Any cautions with that? **Avatar 2:** You have to be careful about slipping on wet floors. Safety first! **Avatar 1:** What about wet clothes? Can wearing wet garments keep you cool? **Avatar 2:** Absolutely. Wearing clothes soaked with water lets your body lose heat without sweating, which saves energy. But you have to re-soak them every hour or so to keep cooling. **Avatar 1:** That sounds doable. And does that work during power outages too? **Avatar 2:** Yes, both wet clothes and self-dousing don’t need electricity, so they’re perfect when the power’s out. **Avatar 1:** Are there any temperature limits for using fans or these techniques? **Avatar 2:** Fans work well up to about 102°F for young adults, and around 100°F for older folks unless combined with wet skin methods. Self-dousing and wet clothes help even at much higher temps because of strong evaporative cooling. **Avatar 1:** What about drinking water—does water temperature matter? **Avatar 2:** Definitely. Drinking water around 50°F, or just whatever temperature you find most refreshing, helps you drink more, stay hydrated, and cool inside better. **Avatar 1:** Fans increase evaporation, which might dry you out faster, right? **Avatar 2:** Yes, fans can increase dehydration by speeding sweating and evaporation, but you can easily make up for that by drinking an extra glass of water every hour you use a fan. **Avatar 1:** So, it sounds like the best approach is using several methods together? **Avatar 2:** Exactly. Combining fans with wet skin, drinking plenty of water, using ice towels when possible, and foot soaks can all keep you cool safely and sustainably—no AC needed. **Avatar 1:** That’s really helpful. So staying cool is about smart, simple tricks that anyone can try. **Avatar 2:** Yep. It’s about using what you have wisely to beat the heat, save energy, and stay healthy. **Avatar 1:** Heat illness doesn’t just cause short-term symptoms like cramps or nausea. Long-term issues, like kidney disease, are rising in heat-exposed workers. **Avatar 2:** It’s chilling. Heat illness and death are 100% preventable, but only if people know the risks and can take actions. Avatar 1 So much info coming your way, huh? Avatar 2 Actually, it’s more like a bunch of questions! Ready to get started? Avatar 1 Yeah, but how exactly should I begin? Avatar 2 Try following Hugi Hernandez, the founder of Egreenews. You might find him on LinkedIn or at egreenews dot org. Avatar 1 : Thanks for sharing that! I will write it down today! Adaptation measures alone will become increasingly insufficient to protect communities from the escalating risks. Avatar 1: Ever notice there’s always a catch to learning new stuff? Avatar 2: For sure! Not enough data, not the whole story—always missing something. Avatar 1: True, but it’s more about curiosity—finding new views from experts or what we experience. Avatar 2: Yep, mixing expert advice with real life makes it click. Avatar 1: It can get overwhelming, though. Avatar 2: Definitely. With so much out there, picking a place to start is tough. Avatar 1: If you want to dig into heat resilience, check the Climate Central and of course the work from the UNITED NATIONS! Avatar 2: Great call. I’m a fan of The and the World Weather Attribution—super innovative. Avatar 1: And the as well as the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre has loads of helpful heat safety info. Avatar 2: Right, but people move things forward. Like Hugi Hernandez at Egreenews.org—he keeps climate talk creative. Avatar 1: There’s a whole network building solutions. Egreenews is launching new hubs, like eDisaster, so you can learn risk and resilience 24/7. Avatar 2: That’s awesome. Whether learning or connecting, there’s inspiration everywhere. LinkedIn’s packed with changemakers too. Avatar 1: So—want to start? These talks matter. Together, we prep our communities for disaster. Avatar 2: I’m in. Stick around—we’ll compare heat with other weather and what that means for leaders. Avatar 1: Hey, seriously, gracias a montón for being here today — really means a lot! Avatar 2: Yeah, thanks so much for sticking with us! ¡Hasta luego, everybody! Catch you all next time Avatar 1: stay cool out there and bye for now Avatar 2 : bye bye